The Sad Tale of ALICE BARNES and the BLOODIED Handkerchief (1892) / Blackburn

[@blueboy7662]

Great video ! But one thing that don't sit right, how can the killer be troubled by the death of a innocent man ? After he's killed a innocent little girl ! It don't add up, same goes for the letter writer if its him that is the one troubled.

[@DaysofHorror]

That's a very good and valid point 🤔 some at the time said the letters were a hoax, and even if they were, the question is then, why would someone hoax them nearly two years after the event. But you do have a very good question there. It's a puzzle for sure.

[@micksmusicchannel]

Sounds like the Police were desperate to come up with a conviction on this one. So many inconsistencies, they'd never stand up in court today. Thanks for another interesting tale from our dark past Chris 👍

[@DaysofHorror]

Thanks Mick. Its a story I've been interested in for a few years now, so we were pleased to finally get over to film this video.

[@matparks08]

Some twists and turns in this tragic story. Glad you managed to locate a grave. All the best

[@DaysofHorror]

Cheers Mat. Thanks for watching mate. I think there is still so much more to this story.

[@matparks08]

@DaysofHorror yeah, I think it's very weak evidence to pass a death sentence. If the letter writer truly had caused the murder, I guess they lived with very strong guilty feelings for the rest of their life

[@DaysofHorror]

@matparks08 those letters really interest and confuse me at the same time.

[@Stejll1]

Sad story😢 Derek Bentley,Timothy Evans spring to mind.The Police have form for framing people in days gone by,this story sounds like a fit up to me.The fact the letters took 2 years to be sent makes me think they were genuine.Another great video Chris,they just keep getting better!😊

[@DaysofHorror]

Those letters are intriguing. I said something similar as in why would someone send them in two years after the event and to simply sign them as the Witton murderer? This person would never become famous (or infamous) by it, so why bother? Plus the evidence pinning Cross Duckworth is very weak in my opinion.

[@TruthSeekerInvestigations]

These videos are getting better and better. Loved the intro, camera angles, overlays and story told. It's one bizarre tale if an innocent man was sentenced to death for being in the wrong place at the wrong time!

[@DaysofHorror]

There are a lot of inconclusive pieces of 'evidence' in my opinion. I get they found a fair bit to tie Cross at the scene of the crime, but from all accounts, the material they found in his home and that loosely matched the handkerchief were very common at that time, as where his boots and how they were manufactured.

[@blueboy7662]

This was the first vid i watched of D of H, its now Thursday two days later and I've been awake on and off since watching these fab stories, interesting, tragic and horrific, i just saw the one about the two boys lost in the mine, so heartbreaking, thanks for great local stories.

[@DaysofHorror]

Many thanks for coming on board with us 😊 We try our best, but sometimes we get things wrong. As long as people enjoy the videos, and as long as we enjoy making them, we have tons more to share with you all.

[@trevorwright6165]

thank you both so much for this sad story of alice you told it so well all the best from trev in sussex

[@susankelly7889]

Been watching your videos from when you started and wow you are both smashing it 👏, the best you tube channel by far 👏.. such a sad story today 😢 but very interesting.. keep going guys amazing work x

[@DaysofHorror]

Many thanks Susan for the kind words. We love the research and then finally getting out to where these stories took place. Sometimes it does feel a little weird walking in the footsteps of the poor victims and obviously their killers, but we just want to make the videos are reliable as we possibly can. We are out this weekend doing another where we now feel another murder took place back in 1911. Its taken some research, but we think we now know where it all took place.

[@emmajulian8716]

Poor darling Alice R.I.P sweetheart ❤

[@johnosgraveyardjaunts2235]

Awesome Chris and Vickie...Superb introduction lead into the story....love the burning paper as well..works really well and adds to the drama...deserved of lots of Subs and watch time..Well done ✔️ 😊😊😊😊

[@DaysofHorror]

Thanks Johno. We really enjoyed doing this one, as sad as the story is. And to find the original foundations, gates and the bridge where most of this story takes place was amazing and kind of makes it even more real (if that makes sense).

[@johnosgraveyardjaunts2235]

@DaysofHorror absolutely agree 👍 keep up the amazing work...your video evolution is amazing..I know how hard u both work at this. I salute u both 👏 💯 🙌 ❤️

[@DaysofHorror]

@@johnosgraveyardjaunts2235 We have a couple of stories we are looking at doing this weekend not too far from where we live. Again, looking at some old maps, we think we have found one location that matches the area where another horrible crime took place. Just hope we can line up one photo from a newspaper cutting when we get there 😉

[@johnosgraveyardjaunts2235]

@DaysofHorror love your work...Your constantly evolving ✨️ 💖 💕

[@soniarosado2848]

❤😢😮 so sad but 1892 sir u do good job 👏 from ys ago very dedicated I’ve seen a few of your stories and I like them you give it a great detail and very good pictures. Also, your voice is wonderful. You pronounce the words very well. Bless you sir 😅.nice story Rip Alice amen 🙏💐 20/24 USA 🇺🇸

[@DaysofHorror]

That's so kind of you. We cannot thank you and other subscribers for the great support you give us, and it honestly does mean so much.

[@veronicacomoe]

such a sad history on this poor child's death. 🙏🏻prayers Alice is resting in peace. I'm sure the murderer found karma sometime in their lifetime. tysvm for the research you do on your videos. excellent. 🖤👍🏻

[@donnabooth9904]

I love watching your new videos night it was a sad one😢😢 I hope you do more videos like this one keep up with the good work guys xx❤

[@DaysofHorror]

Many thanks Donna. Although a sad one, we enjoyed putting this together.

[@gingerali]

A fascinating story that I knew nothing about. I drive on buncer lane and Preston old road regularly. I will definitely check out the gate posts that you came across now that the evenings are getting longer. Problem is your video doesn’t show us the way to get to that location however, I’ll give it a go . Keep up the good work guys .

[@DaysofHorror]

If you park your car in the car park at the Witton Country Park and just off Preston New Road (opposite where that fire took place the other week), the gate posts can be found by walking towards the running track next to the car park. You will see the allotments from there. If you just walk into the wooded area very close to the edge of the car park, the gate peer through the tree line. We were amazed to find them as we weren't looking! But they match up perfectly with the old OS maps and the crime scene sketch of the old lane.

[@gingerali]

@@DaysofHorror thanks for that , I’ll be over there sometime next week. You mean Preston old Road ? Thanks again .

[@patsysmith540]

Thank you so much.

[@john-k6k6w]

Nice 👍 One Guy's Keep them Coming

[@Jkk55]

A very sad tragic story 😢 The poor girl, You worked hard on this with the information and detail thank you it’s much appreciated. 🤩👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@DaysofHorror]

We have another one which might be just as strange that we hope to be filming this weekend, and goes back to 1911.

[@lunevalleyparanormal]

I’m just sat with my morning cuppa watching this sad but true story of Alice Barnes Was Cross Duckworth innocent ? Where the letters a hoax or real? Did someone have a conscience? People have been condemned on the back of evidence given by children & unreliable witnesses We will never know whether there was in fact a serial killer hiding in the shadows or even in plain sight Thank you Chris & Vicky an excellent well researched video

[@shirleybezuidenhout2724]

Very interesting true story that goes back many years. Poor little girl given such a huge responsibility at such a young age. According to the story the police did find a lot of evidence that was crucial for the court case. It's been proven that very few murderers admit to their crimes, always trying to profess their innocence, even when they go to court. I think the police had the right guy, and that the right guy was executed. Why did those letters only come after the perpetrator was put to death, probably only to try and cause trouble for the police. Thanks for sharing 👍👍

[@DaysofHorror]

Many thanks Shirley. The police based a lot of their evidence on childrens testimonies. Some saw Cross running through side streets prior to the discovery of Alice's body and many say they also saw him lurking around the area where she would be found. Without being insensitive to Alice, it's an interesting story in terms of the legal aspects and as for the letters, its strange why someone would want to send them two years after the event. Some also think that the letters were written by someone still in the police force at the time and who knew more about the case than what was actually reported.

[@malcolmhanson-l8v]

You should be on telly Chris. These podcasts are amazing. I did the same before I had my stroke. Put my name in Malcolm Hanson The Ghosts of Sheep Street, Skipton and you should find me cheers from Malcolm

[@DaysofHorror]

Hi Malcolm, I hope you are doing well considering battling against a stroke. I'll pop you name into Google and check out your work 😉

[@Daysofhorror-vickie]

​@DaysofHorror been watching you, it was great to put a face to you and your videos great. We live skipton too and regular visit bizzie lizzies on the bridge as Vickies Great Grandma used to live there, so we regular still visit 😊😊

[@gingermolly234]

Another great video of a very sad event. There are definitely some issues as to the truth of the 'evidence'. I'm curious as to why Alice in 1892 and her parents in later years were buried at Balderstone and not their local church.

[@DaysofHorror]

Her father was originally from Balderstone from what I believe. And after her death, her family relocated back to Balderstone where I presume they lived up until their deaths.

[@gingermolly234]

@@DaysofHorror Thanks for the information. Her parents will have been devastated x

[@cherylmcnair5594]

It's a tragic case all round, especially for little Alice, it wasn't the first case of a miscarriage of justice though (if that's what it was) and it won't be the last. Cross' behaviour in prison doesn't show him to be an unpredictable person, so who knows. I liked the video, the story was well told and interesting, thank you Chris.

[@solanaceae2069]

Alice, gone but not forgotten.

[@THECutto]

Whether or not Ducky was guilty or not, he should have been found not guilty from the evidence supplied. He admits being at the scene, so I don't see the boots or the eye witness accounts equal guilt. The red hanky would have needed more investigation, how common it was etc. No way today he is found guilty. Too much reasonable doubt

[@Daysofhorror-vickie]

Yes, this story did have us puzzled and good talking point for us both prior to filming and after. Thanks for watching 😊

[@wiccanways]

Another part of history i knew nothing about. 👍

[@DaysofHorror]

We covered this story a couple of years ago, but before we were doing the video side of things. So glad to have now travelled on over to Blackburn to re-tell Alice's story. But to find those old gate posts really brought it to life.

[@jonboypatton]

I got no alert. I'll watch Tomorrow.

[@DaysofHorror]

No worries Jon. I've had the. Same happen with people I'm subbed too. We just appreciate your support pal 🙏

[@lunarose7234]

😅good evening everyone ❤

[@DaysofHorror]

Hi Luna :-)

[@jeepsthetimebandit]

Cross is an unusual name. I haven't come across that one before.

[@DaysofHorror]

I know! I was the same when I first heard of this story a few years ago and I still haven't come across any other people named Cross since!

[@JaEDLanc]

In the past it was traditional to name the first child after the mothers maiden name especially in the north. People in my family in the past were certainly called by their mothers maiden name, it would be interesting to find out if it’s true in this case. I’m so glad that wasn’t carried on as my mother’s maiden name was Alison😂

[@jeepsthetimebandit]

@JaEDLanc I've never, ever heard of that being done before. Lol my brother would have been McAnulty. What a mouthful. 🫤

[@JaEDLanc]

@@jeepsthetimebanditstill better than Alison😂 unless it’s for a woman I guess.Robson Green is a modern example I think they still carry that tradition on in the north east, I had a past relative who’s first name was Hartley after his grandmothers maiden name.

[@jeepsthetimebandit]

@JaEDLanc You wouldn't have lived that name down 😅 Yeah, Robson Green. I hadn't thought of his name. I guess I actually have heard of it a lot and not realised. I just thought maybe the parents wanted a different name that wasn't the standard popular one at the time. My son is called Taliesin and people always ask about that. I wonder if some assume it's my maiden name?

[@lunarose7234]

I wonder if DNA etc would now be able to clear who was or wasnt the killer. Thanks guys.

[@DaysofHorror]

I think DNA would have been huge if it had been available back then. I do wonder if Cross was really innocent of all this.

[@diddyreason]

Terrible murder and it was murder. But did he do it? Children are notorious for remembering detail, I know that after conducting multiple Police led safety courses, the old yell, run and tell. One of the events was ID on a male who had walked into the room for a few minutes before leaving. The kids would then explain who they were. The answers were all over the place. But on ID parade they were pretty spot on. The red cloth is just coincidental. But the foot wear was the key bit of evidence. OK they would not plaster cast. But even popular trainers are unique if part worn and easy to identify. But I would think a magnifying glass would do the same job. He was in the same area. The Police also appeared to have local intelligence suggesting the culprit. On balance, maybe guilty, enough to hang, no. Should have been commuted to life imprisonment. Child killers, even the ones where there is 100% proof. They won't admit to the crime. The Police had to solve it and there is the problem, more interested in solving than finding the right culprit. Sad story indeed 😢